A question for the COBs

Oh'Ello, BSN, RN · Sep 22, 2015

So cool. Grandmama told me she wasn't allowed, but I'm glad some were.

My grandmother worked in a catholic hospital and went to a catholic nursing school, she was not allowed to care for male patients while she was engaged to be married (before and after were ok I guess?). I remember her telling me there were a lot of odd rules, I'm sure your grandmother encountered some of those.

heron, ASN, RN · Sep 22, 2015

About those odd rules:

Nightingale worked at the height of the Victorian era, at a time when hospital caregivers were largely what we would refer to as "street people." She felt that it was important to attract a better class of women. So nursing services and schools adopted the same rules and restrictions enforced on other "respectable" women of the age.

In this culture, caregiving is considered an intrinsically feminine function - hence the long struggle by men in nursing against stereotypical assumptions about their sexuality.

It's been fascinating, over the years, to see how cultural biases about women get projected onto nurses.

sailornurse · Sep 22, 2015

That is so cool! I love, love, LOVE old medical books. I've begun to collect them.
Sorry for the mini hijack. :)

I have a first edition of Bates Guide to Physical Exam 1974, the illustrations are pencil or pen & ink, no pictures at all. I also have an old Art & Science of Bandaging, really cool to look at & try to figure out some of the really intricate bandages of the past, "Nursing Before Velcro" I call it.

Scultetus binder anyone?

ixchel · Sep 22, 2015

I have a first edition of Bates Guide to Physical Exam 1974, the illustrations are pencil or pen & ink, no pictures at all. I also have an old Art & Science of Bandaging, really cool to look at & try to figure out some of the really intricate bandages of the past, "Nursing Before Velcro" I call it.
Scultetus binder anyone?

I went to Yorktown back in July and they had a doctor's tent set up. The enema administrating tool made me want to cry.

I also got into a discussion* with the boy manning the tent about the original years and usages of the syringe.

*argument (I tried so hard to disagree in a polite way that would not be ignored completely..... But DUDE! He said the Civil War!)

wannabecnl · Sep 22, 2015

No idea about the use of Notes on Nursing in earlier years, but I have to say that I LOVE that book. My mom bought it for me before I even went to nursing school, and I have read and referred to it many times.

A comment was made on another thread about how people incorrectly think we're like Florence Nightingale, and all I could think was that the poster must have never read Notes on Nursing or would not have such a low opinion of that assessment! I personally would love to be as observant and proactive as Flo was; she was really one of the first epidemiologists and was the catalyst for making nursing into a science, while not losing sight of the art.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Sep 23, 2015

Yep, used Scultetus binder in late 70's-early80's in hospital; 2x in homecare since then for pts. with abd surgery + open wound and unable to tolerate any tape.

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQAllu5J0nrIEkuMWw5xdZgi-gTi2uMJh9ORNtw7y8tgNdl0Oyo

Notes on Nursing was part of BSN program in 79...

allnurses Guide · Sep 23, 2015

On Kindle you can download "Notes from the Western Front", anonymous, for free. Written by a nurse working on the trains for wounded soldiers being brought back from the front, during World War I. Talks about trying to care for 50-60 men, in train cars, laid on straw bales, for hours on end.

Cola89 · Sep 23, 2015

I doubt she's posting here and is going to see this thread.

I doubt she can see well at all

Julius Seizure · Sep 23, 2015

And "COB" refers less to age, and more about time spent in nursing. There are some COBs who are younger than you, OP.

This gives me a question - is there a minimum age for a COB? Or a minimum years of experience?

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Sep 23, 2015

I also think that COB is a state of mind, an attitude and a lifestyle more than defined as an age.

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 23, 2015

This gives me a question - is there a minimum age for a COB? Or a minimum years of experience?

I also think that COB is a state of mind, an attitude and a lifestyle more than defined as an age.

But it does have the world old in the designation. I don't feel old (most days), so I don't think I qualify as a COB yet. I consider myself an FCOB, and probably will for years to come because I refuse to admit and act my age. :sneaky:

allnurses Guide · Sep 23, 2015

Does anyone know if nursing schools were using Florence Nightingale's book Notes on Nursing during the 1930s and 40s?

y we may be crusty and we may be old but we are not ancient!